Cinematic Portrayals of Music Teachers 1940–2025: An Analytical Study and Database

Abstract

Previous studies have examined the influence of on-screen teacher depictions on future educator demographics, normative pedagogies, and public perceptions of the profession. However, research specifically on music teachers in film remains limited, focusing narrowly on a few films. In this article, we introduce a database analyzing 46 films portraying 53 music educators in 49 different schools released from 1940 to 2025. Within the database, we analyze data related to the age, race, and gender of depicted teachers; the types of schools depicted; and the musical styles and classroom practices of music teachers. In identifying, coding, and analyzing the contents of these films, we hope to encourage other scholars to explore how common themes and practices depicted in film may consciously and unconsciously influence the field of music education in future research.